Maternity Benefits in Small Private Companies Without ESI: What Should We Know?

Could you please confirm what maternity benefits are applicable to a working woman in a private company where there is no ESI coverage? I need this information to inform my staff member who is pregnant and in need of information. Our company has a total staff strength of 7 employees. Please advise!

Please go through the details and attachment. Maternity leave is a statutory entitlement:

- Expectant women employees are eligible to avail maternity leave.
- An employee should have completed a minimum of 80 days of service to be eligible for maternity leave.
- If you are on probation, you are entitled to avail maternity leave, subject to fulfilling the above-mentioned condition.

6.3.1 Entitlement:

- Paid maternity leave entitles you to 3 months or 90 days (although as per the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, a female employee is eligible for 12 weeks or 84 days of leave). You can avail of a maternity leave of 12 weeks depending on your pre/post-delivery requirement. Full salary is payable during the first 3 months of maternity leave.

6.3.2 Process:

- You need to inform your supervisor that you will be proceeding on maternity leave at least 3 months before the delivery date.

Regards

I advise that maternity leave should be extended from 3 months to 6 months in the case of a woman employee undergoing an operation and if the doctor recommends rest for an additional 3 to 6 months. What would be the best course of action in this scenario?